WIND BLOWN — Last week the Old Man Winter storm blow so hard that this old grain elevator just across the railroad tracks began to list a little at first, and then go a little more to the right, even though the top section remained upright and straight. It caused a lot of folks to drive by and take a look. It was almost like Conrad had their own “Leaning Tower of Pisa.” The middle section was straightened out and everything ‘looked’ normal. Then the winds came back on Monday with a vengeance and about 1 p.m., the top two sections with a loud crash, took a tumble. One of Conrad’s “skyscrapers” became a casualty of the wind.I-O Photos by Buck Traxler and Barb Endler

By Buck Traxler, I-O Editor

On a 3-0 vote of the council Monday evening the city moved to invest up to $52,000 in a street patching machine.

The Tri-City Interlocal has already called for bids, it being cheaper to get three units at once instead of one. The unit will be funded with 25 percent from Public Works Director Rich Anderson’s water fund and 75 percent from the street general fund.

The machine can mix the oil and chips while a street is being patched and will be operated by two men instead of the three or four needed now when patching is done out of the back of a truck.

Mayor John Shevlin commented, “This will save a lot of time and effort.”In other business the council approved a building permit at 311 S. Kansas to replace a deck with a patio and steps.

On a recommendation from the mayor, Becky Rammel was hired as the pool manager. PWD Anderson said the swimming pool “would be open by June 1, if we’re lucky.” The hiring of Rammel passed on a 3-0 vote.

Dan Wilcox, Lions Club rodeo chairman, wrote a letter requesting the use of a city garbage truck at the Lions Club breakfast at Meadowlark School and at the rodeo grounds for Whoop-Up.

This item passed on a 3-0 vote as did a request from Jay Castle, American Legion Post #37, to sell fireworks for the 4th of July at the G&D Hardware parking lot.

From a report, Police Chief Gary Dent told the council the CPD had received 200 calls for the month of April. In part they included four domestic situations, two shoplifters, four rides home from taverns and 15 assists to the ambulance crews.

Interestingly, no vehicle accidents took place during the month.

Anderson, in his report, noted that downed power poles near the water plant from the two recent storms caused outage problems.

Sewers are being cleaned here in Shelby and Cut Bank and there has already been some vandalism in the parking lot and bathrooms at the ball fields.

From the Port Authority, Cheryl Curry reported that members of the EDC (Economic Development Corporation) have been appointed to the Port Authority board, work is still being done with the growth policy, and the purchase of a property in Brady.

She touched on a meeting in Cut Bank she attended dealing with the oversize truck units that will come through the county and Valier (see April 15 I-O) on their way to oil fields in Canada.

It is estimated the economic impact to the state will be $67.8 million.

The next regular meeting of the city council will be May 17, 7:30 p.m. in the city chambers at 411-1/2 S. Main.

The public is always invited and encouraged to attend and see their government at work.